Switch



J. KOPELIOWITSCH SWITCH I Filed Jan. 6, 1931 Inventor J kob Kopeliowifsc y Attorney Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAKOB KOPELIOWITSCH, OF BADEN, SWITZERLAND,- ASSIGNOR TO AKTIENGESELL- SCHAFT BROWN BOVERI & CIE., 0F BADEN, SWITZERLAND, A JOINT-STOCK COM- PANY or SWITZERLAND swrrcrr Application filed January 6, 1931, Serial No. 506,956, and in Germany January 6, 1931.

This invention relates to improvements in electric current circuit breakers and particularly to circuit breakers in which the arc is quenched in a fluid normally retainedin a chamber under pressure.

The usual circuit breaker for high; voltages and/or highcurr'ent is provided with a socalled explosion chamber filled with an insulat-ing material in which the contacts are immersed and which aids in quenching the arc struck'when the contacts are separated. The fluid, which is usually oil, may be maintained under pressure from an external source or pressure may be roduced' by the action of the arc during the circuit interrupting operation. Such constructions are however not sufficiently effective for the voltages and currents interrupted in present day practice.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a circuit breaker in which the contacts are separated, and the arc therefore struck, in air and at least one of the contacts is drawn into'a fluid which aids in quenching the arc.

Another object ofithe invention is to provide acircuit breaker in which the contacts are separated in air and the arc is drawn into a chamber filled with a quenching fluid retained under pressure from an external source of fluid supply. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker in which the contacts are separated in air and the arc is drawn into a chamber filled with a quenching fluid retained under pressure from an external source of fluid supply which is cut off when the contacts are separated.

Objects and advantages, other than those above set forth, will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which somewhat schematically illustrates one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing illustrating schematically one embodiment of the invention, the reference numeral 1 designates a contact member which is preferably adapted to be retained in a fixed position by suitable means well-known to the art such, for purpose of illustration, as the insulating member 20. A contact member 2 extends upward through a pressure-tight quenching chamber 3 and is arranged to be drawn downwardly thereinto by any suitable through defined by an upwardly extending wall which forms a nozzle 6 through which the movable contact 2 extends into enga ement with the fixed contact 1. The top 0 0- sure member 4 of the chamber 3 is retained in position thereon by means of a suitable cap 7 detachably secured, as by screw threads, on the chamber. The bottom of chamber 3 is provided with a sealing gland including an insulating member 8 through which the contact 2 may move and which prevents the loss of oil, or other suitable liquid, under pressure therefrom.

The chamber 3 is supplied with oil or other suitable liquid under pressure from a suitable sourceof supply such, for example, as the reservoir 24 by means of conduit 25 connected with the chamber at 9 which pressure is controlled by a valve 11 operated by a gear sector 12 meshing with a rack 13 formed on the movable contact 2. As long as contact 2 is in the position shown, valve 11 is'open but whenthe contacts are separated by'moving contact 2 downwardly, the downward movement of the rack formed thereon closes the pipe line 9 supplying the fluid pressure. The oil under pressure in chamber 3 is prevented from escaping through nozzle 6 as long as the contacts are in the position shown i. e. closed,'by means of a valve member 16, retained under the pressure of a spring 17, between collars 18 and 19 on the movable contact 2 and seated against the closure member 4.

When the switch is closed and both contacts are therefore in the position shown, valve 11 is opened and valve 16 is held in such a position by spring 17 as to close the nozzle 6. The liquid under pressure may thus fill chamber 3 completely. As soon as the contacts are separated, an arc is struck in mm said chamber.

3' open position, valve member 16 followed by the movement. of valve member 16 to closed position. The supply of fluid under pressure is thus shut 01f but the pressure in chamber 3, is increased by the action of the arc in the quenched thereby. When the switch is "reclosed, contact 2 reopens valve 11 and recloses ofthe fluid pressure in chamber 3and the switch is thenready for a second circuit breaking operation. r I It will be understood that the arc attaching portions of the contacts are replaceable and that both contacts may be provided with quenching chambers as shown for contact 2 in which case both-contacts are movable'in opposite directions. Aninte'rlock may also be provided for the'movable contact of such nature as toprevent opening of the switch unless the fluid pressure in the quenching chamber is at a pre-determined value. 7

Although butone embodiment of the pres ent invention has been illustrated and. described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modi fications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims. ,The invention claim is:, v

1. In an-electric current circuit breaker, a pair of contacts, a chamber retaining a fluid under pressure, one of said contacts being movable into said chamber, a pipeline supplying fluid under pressure to said chamber, and valves to controlthe supply of fluid to said chamber and to control the escape of fluid therefrom. A I r -2. In an electric currentcir'cuitbreaker, a pair of contacts, a chamber retaining a fluid under pressure, oneof said contacts being movable into said chamber, a pipeline supplying fluid under pressure to said chamher, and valves operated by said movable contact to control the supply of fluidto said 7 chamber and to'control the escape of fluid therefrom. V v 3. In an electric current circuit breaker,

ing. movable into said chamber, a pipeline supplying fluid under pressure to said chamher, a valve operated by' said movablecontactto control th'e' supplyof fluid to said chamber, and a valve carried bysaid movable contactnto control the. escape of fluid v 4. j In an electric current fluidand a stream "of quenching fluid under valve 16 thereby permitting re-establishment' a pair ofcontacts, a chamber retaining afluid under' pressure one of said contacts bee circuit breaker, I 213311 of contacts, a chamber retaininga valve operated by said movable contact to control the supply of fluid to said chamber, and a valve carried by said movable contact to control the escape of fluid from said chamber, said last-mentioned valve opening only after separation offls'aid contact. l

5. In an electric current circuitbreaker, a chamber retalnmg afluid therein and havmg aperture therethrough forming a nozzle forthe flow of said fluid therefrom, a palr of cooperatingcircuit controlling contacts, one of;sa1d contacts be ng movable through said aperture nto sa dchamber, a valve operable to controlthe flow of fluid into said ch-ambeqand a valve operable to control the flow of said fluid from said chamber way of said aperture. upon said movement of the saidoneof said cont-acts into the chamber.v a e 6. In an electric current circuit breaker, a chamber retaininga: fluid therein and hav+ ing an ia-perture therethrough forming a nozzle for the flow ofsaid fluid therefrom,

a pair of cooperating circuit controlling contacts, one of said contacts beingimovable through andopera-tive into and outofsaid chamber, a pipe line for supplyingsaid fluid to said chamber, a valve operable to control the said supply of said fluid to said'chamber, and valve operable to control the flow or. fluid from said chamber by way of said aperture, the said movement of the said one of saidcontacts into said chamber being opcrative to firstactuate the last said valve to permit the said flow offluid from the chamher and to thereafter actuate the first said valve ,to prevent-the said flow of fluid into the chamber. V ln testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my' name this 23 day of December A. D.19 3"O'. 'i

' JAKOB KOPEL IOWITSCH. 

